The Misfits

A parent might reach for this book when their middle schooler feels like an outcast or is struggling with the social pressures and name-calling common in those years. The Misfits follows four friends, Bobby, Addie, Joe, and Skeezie, who have been labeled and picked on for years. Tired of just surviving seventh grade, they decide to fight back by forming a new political party for the student council election, the "No-Name Party," to end name-calling once and for all. This heartfelt and often humorous story explores deep themes of friendship, identity, bullying, and the courage it takes to stand up for what is right. For ages 10 to 14, it’s a powerful tool for opening conversations about empathy, acceptance, and finding the strength in being different.